Melbourne's Best Japanese Restaurants
Japanese food is still one of Melbourne’s most common and popular, which speaks much about its distinctive appeal. There are numerous high-end restaurants where professional sushi chefs skilfully ply their art with multi-course meals in sleek environs, but Melbourne truly thrives in the informal, mid-range category. From ramen to sushi, to delectable Omakase dining and sake bars, Melbourne has hidden Japanese gems to satisfy your Japanese cravings. No matter how big or small your budget is, you can find the perfect Japanese dining spot in our guide to the best Japanese restaurants in Melbourne.
Top 10 Most Loved Japanese Restaurants in Melbourne
Minamishima
Owner-chef Koichi Minamishima’s awe-inspiring knife talents are ideally suited to the subdued, reverent mood here. Chef Minamishima has over 30 years of experience under his belt, preparing the tastiest and most mouth-watering sushi you have ever laid your eyes on. To make his unrivalled sushi, he uses both local seafood and salmon flown directly from Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market. The 15-course omakase menu costs $150 and leaves you in the hands of Minamishima and his sidekick Hajime Horiguchi, formerly of Noosa-notable Wasabi. It begins with smoked and pickled vegetables to cleanse the palette before diving into 14 pieces of nigiri sushi, all made from the bounties of the sea. From the spotless dining room to the busy sushi bar, no one who has left Minamishima has mistaken the gorgeous setting for anything other than the best Japanese restaurant in the country.
Address: 4 Lord St Richmond, Melbourne 3121
Contact: 03 9429 5180
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 6-10 pm
Kisume
Kisume offers a variety of eating options in one location, all of which are bound together by an elegant, subdued simplicity that perfectly encapsulates the no-fuss approach to good food and even finer wine. The magnificent 18-course Chef’s Table experience is at the heart of this offering, which is constantly evolving but always intensely focused on expressing Japanese perfection through the use of the finest Australian seafood accessible. A street-level sushi bar, an izakaya-style basement, and an upstairs private dining room – Kuro – for intimate kaiseki-style meals are all available. What more can you ask for?
Address: 175 Flinders Ln, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: 03 9671 4888
Opening Hours: Mon- Sun 12nn- 3pm, 5pm- 10pm
Yakimono
The funky exterior and vibes are almost as striking as the action inside the open kitchen, where chefs turn skewered meat over flying flames. Definitely too hot to handle! One of Chris Lucas’ brilliant creations, Yakimono is a ‘Blade Runner 2049’- inspired designed restaurant with its neon lights sure to catch the attention of passersby. From the outdoor terrace, take in the streetscape views, or sit at the bar for a front-row seat to the flame-fired cuisine and high-energy entertainment. All of them will take you to Japan’s sensory overload. Don’t miss out on the upgraded rice and noodle dishes, signature hand rolls stuffed with spanner crab, and cocktails named after Tokyo neighbourhoods. You can also book their corner room for big gatherings and parties where you can have some privacy while not missing out on all the fun at the main area!
Address:80 Collins Street, Melbourne
Contact: 03 8616 7900
Opening Hours: Daily 12nn – late hours
Nobu
The internationally known Nobu Japanese restaurant chain has found its home in Melbourne. Yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and black cod with miso are two dishes that expertly integrate Peruvian flavours with Japanese cuisine. It is a pure joy to all five senses, located in the basement of the Crown with a noisy, seductive ambience and a relentless kitchen regularly serving out high-quality sushi, ceviche-style seafood dishes, and 9+ Wagyu. Nobu has never let me down when it comes to dining!
Address: 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
Contact: 03 9292 5777
Opening Hours: Mon- Thurs 12n- 10pm, Fri- Sat 12nn- 11pm
Komeyui Japanese Restaurant
Komeyui, which combines the Japanese terms ‘rice’ and ‘knot,’ is one of Melbourne’s less well-known Japanese restaurants. Kuma, a Japanese national who was born and reared in a fishing hamlet on Hokkaido, created the company. He brought the art and beauty of real Japanese food with him. Take a seat at the stone counter for a 10-course sushi degustation or omakase, or order a la carte for a selection of sashimi, miso-marinated black cod, and savoury steamed custard with foie. Truly, Komeyui is the perfect embodiment of the harmony and peace that food can bring! Plus, a full stomach!
Address: 396 Bay St Port Melbourne, Melbourne VIC 3207
Contact: 03 9646 2296
Opening Hours: Tues- Sat: 12nn-3pm; 6pm-10pm
Tempura Hajime
Located in the basement of an office building, you’d be quite surprised that a high-end Japanese restaurant like Tempura Hajime exists! Once you enter, the ambience drastically changes as the staff assist you to a very private dining area that only seats 12 persons at a time. Founder and chef, Shigeo, prepares all the dishes right in front of you, which is a delight and a remarkable sight to behold! From the name itself, you will realise that it is a degustation of all things tempura. Light, crispy, battered morsels of food are served in intervals with pickled vegetables, fresh sashimi, and even wagyu beef. They also boast a wide selection of wines, cocktails, and the traditional Japanese wine, Sake. Transport yourself into a traditional izakaya in the heart of the city!
Address: 60 Park St, South Melbourne, VIC 3205
Contact: 03 9696 0051
Opening Hours: Lunch Tues-Fri 12nn-2pm, Dinner Tues-Thurs 6pm-730pm, Fri-Sat 530pm- 730pm
Izakaya Den 2029
Izakaya Den is one of Melbourne’s most well-known and consistent Japanese restaurants. Izakaya Den was founded six years ago by Simon Denton, Miyuki Nakahara, and Takashi Omi. Their Japanese cuisine empire now includes fine dining restaurant Kappo and sophisticated cocktail bar Hihou, but Izakaya Den remains the family’s wild child — a less formal gathering spot where you can have a good time. Even if they arrive with full tummies, the variety of imported sake, beer, and Japanese whisky make this a regular destination for residents. It’s worth parking up here for a drink or two to take in the social scene that has become synonymous with late nights in Melbourne’s CBD.
Address: 114 Russell St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: 04 7620 8573
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 12nn-2.30pm; Mon-Sat 5.30pm-midnight
Kenzan
Kenzan, which first opened its doors in 1981, is Melbourne’s elder statesman of Japanese restaurants, and it remains one of the city’s most desired culinary experiences after four decades. Minamishima, Shigeo Yoshihara, and Kentaro Usami, three of Melbourne’s foremost authorities on Japanese cuisine, all learned their trade here, no doubt learning how to create delicate flavours like signature Chawan Mushi, a steamed egg and dashi custard with seafood, and prepare Japanese classics like a grilled eel with sweet soy sauce on a bed of perfectly textured rice.
Address: Collins Place 45 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: 03 9654 8933
Opening Hours: Mon-Wed 6pm-10pm, Thurs 12nn-230pm, 6pm-10pm, Fri 12nn-230pm, 530pm-10pm, Sat 530pm-10pm
Torissong
Torissong specialises in Japanese Yakitori, vegan ramen, and grilled seafood and vegetables. A lot of people flock to this quaint Japanese restaurant for their Higawari Teishoku Set Meal Du jour. It is a well-balanced and harmonious meal personally designed by their talented chef. The side dishes will vary daily, depending on the freshest ingredients that they can find. If you are willing to spend a little more, you can get premium Teishoku sets with grilled eel, lamb, or assorted sashimi.
Address: Shop 2/143 Queensberry St, Carlton VIC 3053
Contact: 03 9029 5922
Opening Hours: Tues-Thurs 1130am-3pm, 530pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 1130am-3pm, 5pm-10pm, Sun 11am-3pm
Tamura Sake Bar
Experience an authentic Japanese sake bar in Fitzroy! Melburnians, young and old, frequently flock this charming sake and jazz bar because of its good food, lively music, and their records store. You can order pretty much anything here, from Japanese -style tapas to ramen, to sashimi, and to yakitori. Guzzle up a couple of drinks from their comprehensive range of Japanese sake,wines, and cocktails. They even have options for your non-alcoholic drinker friends! It’s the perfect place to unwind, have a few drinks, listen to jazz music, and exchange stories with your friends.
Address: 1/43 Gertrude St, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Contact: 03 9417 1992
Opening Hours: Mon-Wed 5 pm- 10 pm, Thurs- Sat 12nn- 11pm
Get Your Japanese Food Fix Now!
Our list of Melbourne’s finest Japanese restaurants just proves that you can still enjoy great Japanese food without boarding a plane! So, go and get that craving satisfied!